When most outsiders hear of Kampung Buah Pala, they tend to think of it as just another crammed “squatter” settlement, with ramshackle houses, surrounded by rubbish and stray animals.
Let me show you the other side of Kg Buah Pala – a side not often seen by outsiders. The village is actually quite scenic, the houses nestled amidst natural greenery. The wooden houses blend in with nature, standing next to rambutan, neem and coconut trees. It is easy to see why the Koperasi and Nusmetro covet this land. But they will only flatten it with orange soil for their construction work.
“People tend to look down on wooden houses,” said one of the villagers, showing me around. “They think that brick and concrete houses are superior, but then they find it so hot inside such houses and apartments even with fans and air-cons. Do you know, when I was growing up here in the village, we had to sleep under double blankets. It was that cool.”
He told me that his father moved in here in the 1950s and bought the family home for $3,000 back then. “That was a lot of money back then.”
Talking to the villagers, I could sense their pride in the village, their passion and nostalgia obvious.
Another villager told me he was seriously thinking of leaving the corporate world and coming back to nature to rear cows and goats. “I am tired of all the unethical practices I see in the corporate world, having to market products and persuade people to buy what they don’t really need and then having to chase for collection. I would rather sell something (like milk and dairy products) that people actually need and they will then come to me for it.”
When asked if that meant he was thinking of going into hightech, large-scale cattle rearing with modern equipment, he repled, “No, I would rather do it the natural (organic) way.”
I thought I would take photos of all the houses yesterday before the demolition team can bulldoze its way in and swing their wrecker’s ball to flatten the village forever.
But they will have to contend with the villagers’ pride in their heritage and homeland.
the buah pala residents should not be helped by the stste government.they have been instigated by the mic to create a ruscus….
guan eng is confident that he can solve the problen… but the (villagers) can’t be trusted anymore
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So what!!!!! you can beautified the place but as long it is not your land just get out.
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I totally agree with Kolimac. It is now between BN vs PR. They have taken their fight. Ask them if BN can convince Tenaga or even PBA not to cut the water or electricity?
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These pictures are evidence of backwardness and development is needed for Penang to move forward. I don’t see any heritage value to be proud of, the physical condition of the village only give tourist sense of poor state and bad image to Penang.
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It cost ~100mil to buy back the land now. pg state gov only had ~477mil per year. It cost ~3 months worth of penangites money to help this small village. Its cheaper to move and pay for their new home than to save that.. These villagers are just too selfish. Might as well demand MIC to make malaysia rain gold.
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When BN was in power, “Why MIC did’nt try to get a 99 year lease for these innocent settlers?” it really tickles me now.
So Samy malu stop your hypocritical game…Indians gave MIC blind loyalty before, the game is over for you spent force… and a Beggar party in the coalition.
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Sick with these chauvinists… go read more on the legality of the land title before you open your … mouths.
(They are) using Federal court to rob the land from … poor people.
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Dear Anil,
Looking at the pictures, I have to admit that I, for one, am not too sure by your attempt to justify safe guarding KBP just because its “scenic” and full of “wooden houses”. I could probably name you quite a few other places in Penang which are “scenic” and have “wooden houses” as well – so that line of argument doesn’t really convince me despite your laudable efforts to promote it such.
However, I feel that what carries more weight in the effort to save KBP is the fact that the transfer of ownership was done in such a shady manner.
Even the argument on compassionate/ethical terms – that we shouldn’t evict these residents who have been staying there for 200 year with just a stroke of a pen (as the KTK administration has done) holds more water in my humble opinion.
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Anil,
Have you seen the beautiful orchard farms in Whampoa opposite of Toa Payoh? How about the large squatter settlement in Toa Payoh before they were torn down to make way for the First HDB settlement that spearhead the growth of Singapore economy, uplifting the social standing of all Singaporeans who stayed there before? How about the Hong Kong famed Walled City?
I would prefer to bulldoze them to create a Mini Toa payoh or a Waller Court. If require to use the directive or Land Requistion Act, lets build public housing. All poor Penangites deserved one small part of Kampung Buah Pala
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It is all down to the money and greed.
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The thing is that why these villages keep attacking Guan Eng, when he is probably the only guy in position of power that is on their side.
They are biting the hands that could have helped them.
Bcoz if this, KBP folks lost my support.
Land is a premium in Penang, everybody have to pay a premium to stay in Penang.
Indeed injustice is done by the previous Gerakan govt, if so, KBP folks should take it up with them, not generating much more fodder for BN controlled media to shoot at Guan Eng.
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Go form an Indian based party, Anil.
Thanks for your suggestion, Feleaz – but no thanks! – Anil
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For whatever reasons, Pakatan government is putting a lot of attention, effort and time to this Kampung Buah Pala’s issues which I don’t think BN government would even think of extending the date line for demolition. Think about it Kampung Buah Pala’s folks and readers.
Reasonable in your demand.
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Anil, are Indians that bad ah? Biting the hands who feed them???
I have some very good Indian friends. They are not a bit like what had been described by the people.
I dare say some people who come to the aid of the villagers (last minute) are not sincere, they have their own agenda, in particular, MIC. Hindraf ???
I hope some smart villagers will educate those less smart ones so that the latter will not be cheated again and again…
Ask Mr Samy where is my hard earned money which i have invested in the Maika shares???
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nkkhoo
“(They are) using Federal court to rob the land from … poor people.”
2 points to be made:
First, scan the document/letter evidencing beneficial ownership by the villagers since Margarate’s time. You must have some form of a letter/document stating Margarate’s intention to give the land to the villagers.
Second, if there is no such document and everything is by way of words verbally, then the correct words to use are.. the land belongs to Margarate.. the Federal govt had held the land on trust for her..the villagers stayed on the land NOT as beneficial owners but as licenseess.. in which case their license has been terminated.. and the Federal court had rightfully decided to upheld the law.
Politics is one thing. Legal is another. To claim promises were made are politics (whether indeed made or not). To ask LGE to fight for you is politics. To ask LGE to abuse his position to “grab” the land for you is politics. He can “grab” if he abuse his position to revoke the DO, acquire the land at nominal value and that is politics.
To ask LGE to upheld the law as it stands is legal. You dont like it, get MIC to amend federal law / pass “KBP (Annulment for Federal Court Dicesion) Act” in parliament. Thats legal and is the law if enacted. Why havent u done so if its the last resort?
At the end of the day, unless we argue legally, the villagers are not going anyway with it. Section 116 doesnt help. Please consult an independent lawyer or apply your common sense. It only applies if a building structure is approved by the local authority and is erected legally. Or not everyone would need state’s consent to demolish their dog house / stor room / shackle.
Now, you should have start a donation fund months ago and not rely on politically made promises.
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Looking at your photos, I can’t see any heritage or cultural value in this village at all. Surely this can’t be a “heritage” that should be preserved. I can’t see any Hindu or Tamil culture being lived there. Its all an exaggeration to save their homes.
“Scenic” is a matter of opinion but to me its more of an eyesore. Every village in this country has its “scenic” spot and value and certainly, being “scenic” is not an excuse for the government to step in for the village to be preserved.
The photos you put up reflects and mirrors the scenes found in almost any village and new village in this country. So why is this village so important, so different? If you are in Penang, go visit Kampong Aceh, Kampong Benggali, Kampong Melayu and see if you would like to preserve them all?
This is a pure land dispute where the villagers are faced with eviction and will have no place to stay and to earn a living. Its not about a “cultural, living Hindu Tamil Heritage village” as some have put it. So don’t get too emotional about it. Solve the villagers’ plight, fears and uncertainties. If they are adequately compensated, I am sure they will all leave and abandon this “heritage and cultural” place. It is a fact that many have already done so.
The government should continue to probe the land transfer, to see if there are any hanky-panky and to correct any BN government shortcomings. Any culprits should be brought to court.
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AT first, everyone felt bad and sympathize the villager. The more they make a scene and “ridiculous & unreasonable demands”, the more ppl get tired with the stunt. I drove by yesterday and saw bunch of them holding banner and such, putting little children and senior citizen in line. The aim is to get more & more sympathy.
This is getting more and more “meluat” to look or even hear about. I am sorry guys, but they went too far off this time. You can ask around Penang and ask for peoples opinion. You will understand what I mean.
Looking forward to the condominium.
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#km, not only Pakatan is putting a lot of attention on this, BN is also. The difference is one trying to help the KBP people but the another is trying destroy pakatan govn in penang.
Anyway,anil nice pic, sort of brought back good memorizes of childhood days.
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crash,
looks like you have bought a condo in the project.
no wonder your comment is so prejudiced.
I wonder how many other spin meisters here have bought properties there. That explains their pro developer stance.
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Totally agree with mr. crash…only LGE carry the weight..most of the shouting ppl are only wanted to be count in without clear direction…so stay with LGE..
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Second, if there is no such document and everything is by way of words verbally, then the correct words to use are.. the land belongs to Margarate.. the Federal govt had held the land on trust for her..the villagers stayed on the land NOT as beneficial owners but as licenseess.. in which case their license has been terminated.. and the Federal court had rightfully decided to upheld the law.
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The federal goverment did transfer the land title to Penang state government?
The answer is NO. Please provide your legal doucment to prove otherwise.
How can you sell a land not belong to you? State government was abusing the power of land office…
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ahh at last somebody – jeswant natarjan – spoke up about the village not being anything heritage, cultural or traditional. and to think one of the villager went all the way to parish to seek for heritage status.
granted that i understand the villagers in not wanting to move but i don’t understand them to give this reason of the village being traditional and heritage (which NGOs seems to take up – or was it NGOs that started it?).
quote jeswant:
–”This is a pure land dispute where the villagers are faced with eviction and will have no place to stay and to earn a living. Its not about a “cultural, living Hindu Tamil Heritage village” as some have put it. So don’t get too emotional about it. Solve the villagers’ plight, fears and uncertainties. If they are adequately compensated, I am sure they will all leave and abandon this “heritage and cultural” place. It is a fact that many have already done so.”–
how true.
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First, scan the document/letter evidencing beneficial ownership by the villagers since Margarate’s time. You must have some form of a letter/document stating Margarate’s intention to give the land to the villagers.
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No document is needed to prove I am a legitimite land owner IF my ancestors and me occupied a land for 200 years.
Johor government had never sold Batu Puteh to Singapore, but international court gave that tiny island to Singapore for a single reason, the island was occupied by Singapore for 100 years without a single protest from Johor and Malaysia until 70s.
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nkkhoo
First Answer: Basic law.. All lands not owned alienated are owned by the State. Citation: NLC
Secondly: If you are not the owner and you stay in the land for 200 years. The land still belongs to the State. Our land laws are not the same as the UK whereby there you may gain ownership / adverse possession (wiki it up) of the land after staying in the land for 12 years. In our case, there is clear documentation that the villagers are TOL holders (licensees).. simple as that. If they want to prove anything, it must be from Margarate to them prior to independence. West Msia is not Swak where u can argue native customary rights.
In relation to Batu Puteh, get a copy of the judgment and read it. It is international law and not our land law that matters. Read it and you will understand the reasoning. It’s simple and straight forward with legal documentations from the State of Johor disclaiming Johor’s ownership of Batu Puteh. If you dont read it, you are just arguing on petty arguments u read from the news.
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I could care less if the site was scenic or possessing some sort of heritage, which is kind of spin to me. What is important is that these people have to be forced out of their homes, regardless of whether its in the way of development or not. That being said, I kind of miss the old Singapore, as opposed to the very heavily modernized one that’s standing in place now.
I would not be so quick to blame the residents of Buah Pala for their remarks on Lim Guan Eng and so forth. Desperate people in desperate situations go for any solution available. So shame on you people who’re looking forward to condominiums and development and all that bulls***. You ought to be blaming BN and Hindraf both.
Compensated for the land? Maybe in some event in the future, but at a juncture like this? Heck no. You just might end up with a dispossessed people.
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